BELLINGHAM — A Bellingham woman has filed a lawsuit in federal court against two Bellingham police officers, alleging they violated her civil rights by illegally entering her apartment, falsely arresting her and using excessive force during an incident in 2012, the Milford Daily News has learned.

The events leading up to the arrest were all captured on video on 29-year-old Holly Graham's iPhone, which shows her questioning the officers as they were leaving her apartment. According to a report by Team 5, the Milford Daily News' and Wicked Local's news partners at WCVB Channel 5 News, Graham said she wanted to know why the officers showed up at her apartment, knocked down her door and searched her home without a warrant.

Graham was arrested following the encounter in October 2012, charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault and battery on a police officer. Prosecutors later dismissed all of the charges.

According to the police report, Officer David Ayotte and Officer John Melanson were looking for a friend of Graham's who was wanted by police on an outstanding warrant. Graham claims police told her they were responding to a complaint for loud music.

During the incident, Ayotte accused Graham of threatening him with a fork as Melanson stood nearby. According to the police report, Ayotte wrote he felt threatened and at a disadvantage. He said during the skirmish the fork struck the side of his head leaving abrasions.

Graham said she had been cooking dinner when the officers arrived and claims she didn't realize she still had the fork in her hand. In the video, as she is getting arrested, she tells police her stove is on, to which one of the officers responds it will be shut off.

Attorney Howard Friedman is representing Graham and filed the suit in federal court.

Ayotte declined Team 5's requests for an interview and Melanson did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Bellingham Police Chief Gerry Daigle told Team 5 Investigates his department did not conduct an internal investigation because he believes his officers' actions were justified.

Return to milforddailynews.com later for more on this developing story.

Material from a WCVB/Channel 5 News broadcast was used in this report. WCVB is a media partner to Wicked Local, including the Milford Daily News, Metrowest Daily News and Country Gazette.